FEB I 5 ?92I
McGill Library,
McGill University,
Montreal, Que.
CfifnH Di
Vol. 3, No. 7
MONTREAL, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1921 10 cents a copy, $5.00 a year
Page 2
THE CANADIAN RAILROADER
February 12, 1921
COMPRISED <5P
CAiuidlAn Explosives, Limited.
Dominion Gnrtridite Gompeny, Limited.
Cenedtan Fabrikoid, Limited.
The Arlington Company of Canada, Limited.
Canada, Limited.
^ ^ The Victoria Chemical Company, Limited.
i- - — -^1 Head Office: "-Wl I K s5d:&^:L‘
120_St. James Street, MONTREAL, Canada.
Consolldated^Offices: Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto.
IMPORTERS AND
WHOLESALE GROCERS
COUVRETTE - SAURIOL
Limited
/
114 St. Paul Street
Montreal
ly
L
A]
A'
1 TEA
CUPS FOR
GOOD TEA IS NOT ONLY ONE
OF THE MOST HEALTHFUL AND
INVIGORATING DRINKS— BUT IS
:: ALSO MOST ECONOMICAL ::
POOR TEA IS ALWAYS HARMFUL
AND DEAR AT ANY PRICE.
INSIST ON GETTING
"SAUDA”
E619
iliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii<iiif'''iiii'iiiiiiiiiiililiiiiiiiiitiiliiiiiiliiiiiiiiiii^
ALPHONSE RACINE, lUled
Manufacturers and Wholesale
Distributors of
DRY GOODS
60-98 ST. PAUL STREET WEST
MONTREAL, Canada.
Manufacture the following Standard Line?
^ (Registered)
'■ ■ “Racine” Working Shirts
“Strand” Fine Shirts
“Life Saver” Overalls
“Samson” Pants
“Record” Sox
3 Factories — 11 Permanent Sales Offices,
Montreal Warehouse
14 Specialty Departments.
EVERYTHING IN DRY GOODS
/
N
February 12, 1921 THE CANADIAN RAILROADER ,
The Greatest Tragedy of the Road
Enormous Losses in Passenger and Freight Services On All
Lines — ^Tragic Results of Petty Pilfering on
Earning Power of Labor
By GEORGE PIERCE
T he object of introducing the statistics which appear in The Canadian National Railways west of Port Arthur,
this instalment is to give railroad men m general an ?5120,7Ud./2. , „ -i
insight into the vast problem which has arisen as The Grand Trunk Raili^ay, $41,042.98.
the result of either illegal or careless practice on the part of The Canadian Pacific, $166,630.62, totalling
the employees. So enormous are the losses involved that $354^353.34. ^
it will be recognized at once that the railroads are simp y errors of employees, improper refrigeration and ven-
forced to corrective measures. It appears to me that t^re ^nd delays, the combined railways estimate their
are only threO processes practically available. First; Ihe $323,096,87.
companies might reduce losses by a vigorous and extensive avoidable fires, $13,264.25 is charged,
development of the present system o' ^mg spotM*^ ^ $3,726,301.99.
?b‘“'<;;:?he mYroad broti«hood“ am ctpable'^f cmrecdS An analysis of the commodities will prove to be of
tKtuation by their own efforts. Third: The companies interest because it will show the comparative risk involved
n cooperation wi-th the members of the brotherhoods if in handling the chfferent artmles.
teh parties act in good faith, may entirely eliminate the ^ The 1~
ThVeoSuding article of this series will set forth our Butter and cheese, $48,493.34.
own detailed plans for consideration by all the interested , Eggs,
'in the meantime it will be of value to railroad men to Live stock, $26 140.77. ^ 22 621 57
realize the enormity of the losses involved, because with this Meats and '
realization must come the conviction that things cannot
continue as in the past. Since it is inevitable, then, that Gram, $517,616.82. caq
changes are overdue the all-important consideration is that Flour and other mill products, $276,549.66.
they ^should come about without bringing destruction Ai
miserv and suffering to the men and that the changes should Groceries, $393,463^1 .
but to the men tnemseiveb. . . o/ii
To losses incurred in the passenger service must he .o --t-’
added the losses in the freight accounts. The two Problems Furniture ^^77 659 68
are so closely interrelated that it becomes proper to introduce Household goods, $53 215T2.
ffew facts and figures. These statistics have been very Glass and glassware |8.
caLfully compiled and may properly be accepted as correct. Products of clay and stone, $37,437.16.
For the vear ending December 31st, 1919, The Canadian Stoves, $42,874.24.
National Railway Lines, east of Port Arthur, Freight Dept., iron and steel castings and bars, $59,098.40.
charged up on account of robbery, pilferage and concealed Vehicles, $49,377.07.
losses, the amount of $41,009.79. , Agricultural implements, $35,058.55.
The Canadian National Railway Government lines Miscellaneous, $953,352.81.
charged $100,780.94. ^ Making a grand total of $3,726,301.99.
The Canadian National Railway lines west of Port ijo not know what foundation there is for the estimated
Arthur puts the figure at $195,528.97. i,*, shortages on the passenger end, but I will say, with bated
The Grand Trunk shows losses of $648,797.72, while breath, that it is generally considered to be even higher than
the Canadian Pacific is a close second with $623,770.16, freight department, and let it rest at that
making a grand total of $1,617,879.58. in this article.
Even the most conservative railroad men will admit speaking of freight losses, it is generally understood
that the figures are rather imposing. , , , . jx that often the reaction is directly upon the working class.
Under the head of damage (cause located and unlocated; ^ j ^ machinery from which
wrecks and rough handling, combined railways charge up removed an important bearing made of bronze.
$1,417,697.95, divided as follows;— ^his machine is listed at $16,000. It was
Canadian National, east of Port Arthur. $45,33U. / v shipped from England. Owing to the disappearance of that
Canadian Government lines of Canadian bearing this machine has been tied for ninety-seven days.
National.,.. 54,401.75 the new piece to arrive from the Old Country.
Canadian National Railway Lines, west of develops that three men would have worked at the
Port Arthur “4,118. jpaphine while thirty-one others would have' been employed
Grand Trunk Railway 527,484.U/ ^^g product of the machine in vanous processes
Canadian Pacific Railway ’ ^76,293.3/ ^j^g loss in wages alone, without any
No less interesting is the report on defective equipment, jjgration for the added wealth which the machine
and grain leakage, which is due to rough handling. Jtself would have produced, totals $16,975. An estirnate of
East of Port Arthur the Canadian National Railways .^^eight of the bearing which was missing gave the con-
charged up $8,579.09. rovprnment lines elusion that as scrap bronze it brought the vandal about
The Canadian National Railway Government lines, (Continued on next page).
$10,816.93.
Page 4
THE CANADIAN RAILROADER
February 12, 1921
THE GREATEST TRAGEDY OF THE ROAD
(^Continued from previous page).
$3.20. His thoughtless act, therefore, proved to be a
boomerang which has brought suffering and loss to his
fellow workmen.
Selling $16,975 worth of labor for $3.20 can hardly be
considered a profitable piece of business, and it would,
I imagine, be rather difficult to find a group of labor men to
approve of the transaction if the details of the adventure
were known and fully understood. Would the presence of
the perpetrator be tolerated in the society of of respectable
men when revealed ?
It would be very easy to analyze other losses and prove
that in the end it is the public, and largely the working men,
who finally foot the bill in fnaking good the losses through
theft, carelessness and avoidable waste.
It will not be long before the men will begin to rectify
these conditions, because it will be in their own interests
to do so, and they can do it. The spotters, detectives, law
courts and lawyers are unsatisfactory and unnecessary. The
upright, redblooded manhood of the men earnestly awakened
to the necessity of urgentand courageous action will solve their
own problems in a far better way. In the meantime we
would urgently request all railroad men to think the matter
over and to offer practical suggestions as the result of ex-
perience in the service.
Since things cannot possibly remain as they are — be-
cause the huge sums involved have an impelling force that
demands correction at any cost — the inevitability should
spur us to a solution.
The present system is unsatisfactory to all.
What have you to offer in its place ?
School Board Chairman Be-
fore Parents
F ollowing are points from an informal and unreported talk
made by the Rev. Dr. Dickie, Chairman of the Montreal
Protestant Board of School Commissioners, before a gath-
ering of working class parents in a lonely school beside the north-
end dump on Tuesday night, one of the places (some popular
notions notwithstanding), where the public man of to-day comes
neax’est to the pulse of the common people, and from which
(whatever the superficial appearances) estimates are more
quickly made and news travels more speedily : —
The members of the Board are
hoping to get an increase of taxa-
tion that will enable them to de-
velop the schools to the maximum
of community service. They want
to encourage the use of schools at
nighfs for community purposes,
turning over the assertibly halls,
cookery rooms, and gymnasium to
adults and children under responsi-
ble leaders.'^ Good outdoor skating
rinks for the children are being
thought of. Health of the body is
important in education as well as
health of the mind.
We recognize that we cannot teach
religion, as religion, in the schools,
yet we must recognize the essen-
tially spiritual nature. The least
spiritual communities have been
those most undermined by ‘selfish-
ness. At least the Scriptures can
be used as literature and a connect-
ing link between training in home
and church. At least children should
be inspired by the idea of a per-
sonal God to whom they are re-
sponsible for honesty, purity, up-
rightness and general moral laws.
I think there is a kindlier spirit
abroad than there used to be.
More depends upon the home than
upon the school. Homes are the
fountains of life out of which come
the main characteristics of child-
hood. The school teacher is a con-
tributor to the upbringing of the
child, but the main responsibility
still lies on the parents.
A great trouble in education is
that there are many reformers who
never get beyond starting on the
foundations.
It is sometimes said that our
schools are overcrowded. So far not
a single pupil complying with the
regulations has been declined .ad-
mission.
I do not claim that the best is
being done for the teachers in the
way of salaries, but the conditions
of payment have been much im-
proved in the last three years. An
elementary teacher now gets $950 a
year to startf. and a principal can
rise to $4,000 a year.
We haven’t got over a certain
provincialism that we have the best
educational systems in the world.
There is still much to learn from
older countries. Ontario people used
to claim that there was nothing
equal to their system. Now some
of them are not even sure that it is
as good as the system in Quebec.
The school used to be for the privi-
leged few who thought they were
born to rule the multitude. Now it
is^ recognized that the school is the
right of the whole people, so that
they might have the right of govern-
ment of themselves.
Education is more than filling
persons with information and
sharpening their faculties. A per-
son with lots of information and
sharp faculties might still be a
menace to society. Education should
comprise the training of the whole
man, the formation of the character
that goes to the making of the best
citizenship.
Education should produce good as
well as intelligent citizens. It should
produce a disposition on the part of
the child to bear his or her share
of the white man’s burden, a sense
of duty, a willingness to assume re-
sponsibility.
We want to turn out ladies and
gentlemen. By that I do not mean
persons with good manners alone,
but those with the right qualities of
mind.
It is often a mistake of parents to
defend the child against the teacher.
Children should be taught to re-
spect the teacher. When I was a
boy I got licked by a teacher. I
complained to my mother dnd she
gave me another licking for getting
licked. I think she was not far
wrong. '
Those who know something of the
matter say that our school build-
ings are equal to the best in Amer-
ica. The only inferior buildings we
have are those taken over by the
Board from annexed municipalities.
WHY SHOULD HE TALK.^
“Can your little baby brother talk
yet?” a kindly neighbor inquired
of a small lad. “No, he can’t talk,
and there ain’t no reason why he
should talk,” was the reply. “What
does he want to 'talk for, when all
he has to do is yell a while to get
everything in the house that’s worth
having ? ”
Curtailment of hours, in prefer-
ence to a lay off of the workers
in the Western Division shops of the
Canadian National is announced.
The men will work 40 hours a week,
with Saturday idle. Nearly 9,000
men are affected.
SUCCESSFUL MISTAKES.
When a plumber makes a mistake,
he charges twice for it.
When a carpenter makes a mis-
take, he corrects it and says nothing.
When a lawyer makes a mistake, j
he tries the case again and doubles '
his fee.
When a doctor makes a mistake^
he buries it.
When a preacher makes a mistake,
nobody knows it.
When an electrician makes a mis-
take, he blames it on induction and
presents a bill.
When a printer makes a mistake,
he passes the buck.
When an automobile ^buyer makes
a mistake, he trades it in.
But, when an editor makes a mis-
take — Good Night!
— Builders’ Bulletin.
N
REVERSED HIMSELF.
“What’s the trouble now?” de-
manded his employer when the of-
fice boy came in half an hour late.
“The ice on the pavements,” said
the lad. “Every step I took, I slip-
ped back two.”
“You did, eh? Then how did you
ever get here?”
“I started back home.”
I THE OLD RELIABLE
YARMOUTH. Nova Sootia
The w. R. Brock compony, UAiited
DEALERS IN
DRY GOODS, WOOLLENS AND CARPETS
WHOLESALE
MONTREAL
Cor. Notro Dome West ond St. Helen Streets
Cor. St. Helen & Recollet Sts.
TORONTO CALGARY
69-6S Boy Street
41-47 WelUntton Street.
Cor. Bldhth Arenue ond Second
Street West.
February 12, 1921
THE CANADIAN RAILROADER
Page 5
Conditions Facing Labor in
Germany
While the “New Rich” Are Living in Luxury and Extravagance,
Workers and Others Show Evidence of Destitution.
{Christian Science Monitor).
Berlin.
T he social and industrial con-
ditions found in Germany to-
day present a three-fold con-
trast which is not to be found else-
where in Europe. Against a huge
background of extreme poverty is
seen the riotous living of a compara-
tively few rich, while in the world
of industry, production, reconstruc-
tion and re-equipment are «being
maintained, even if the foundations
are shaken and unstable.
A spectacle of luxury and extrava-
gance confronts the visitor in every
city, and not merely in Berlin. The
people who contribute to it are chief-
^ ly the “Schieber,” as the Germans
call their new rich, and the pro-
fit^rs who have waxed fat on the
misery of the people during and
since the war. These accumulated
fortunes out of war contracts, and
since the armistice they have specu-
lated in food, in luxury imports for
their fellow rich, and above all, in
the fluctuating exchange. To them
must be added the rich junkers, the
lesser country people, who have pro-
fited out of the high food prices,
and the shareholders who had large
holdings in the industrial undertak-
ings which flourished during the
war. In the aggregate, these peo-
ple make up an imposing number,
and their daily gatherings by the
thousand in the hotels and restaur-
ants of all the large cities give a
superficial impression of great pros-
perity.
Industrial Fusion.
Those who are closely concerned
with the finance and direction of the
principal German industries regard
the present situation from widely
different standpoints and act accord-
ingly. Some are spending reckless-
ly, on the ground that as growing
taxation and the modified form of
capital levy which the government
has adopted will sooner or later sap
their wealth they may as well en-
joy it riotously while they have the
chance. Others, like Mr. Stinnes and
his group, are devoting thejr ener-
gies to a process of fusion of inter-
ests and consolidation of industry on
a scale hardly reached even in Am-
erica, and certainly undreamed of in
Great Britain.
Their motives seem to be mixed,
and they are credited variously with
the aim of combining to meet for-
eign competition, of concentrating
capital and reserves so as to in-
crease .the chances of tiding over
the industrial crisis, which many re-
gard as inevitable, and of strength-
ening their position against the so-
cialization efforts of the workers.
Grave Concern Shown.
Probably all these purposes are in
the thoughts of the trustification
magnates. Other directors of indus-
try, who remain outside the move-
ment inspired by Mr. Stinnes, ad-
mitted freely to the correspondent
of The Christian Science Monitor,
who discussed Germany's industrial
and social prospects with them, that
they regard the course of events
with grave concern. Two things
chiefly perturb them, the financial
difficulties caused by the adverse
exchange and the uncertain position
in regard to indemnities, and the
growing danger of industrial trou-
bles owing to the impossibility of
providing the workers and their fam-
ilies with sufficient food and clothes.
The Christian Science Monitor’s
correspondent found that people of
all classes in Germany, and particu-
larly American and British relief
workers, are convinced that the sit-
uation of the German workers and
middle classes constitutes a menace
to the social peace of Europe. He
also found in every centre he visited
in Prussia, Saxony, Bavaria, in
Westphalia and south Germany,
abundant evidence of the destitution
beneath the burden of which the
German people are slowly sinking.
At present wages vary from 20 to
50 marks a day, including allow-
ances for children. Thkt is from 6
to 10 times as much as in pre-war
days. But the minimum increase in
the price of anything is now 10
times, and for the majority of neces-^
sary foods and for clothing the peo-
ple must pay from 15 to 20 times
more than in 1914. Salaries of off-
icials, professional men and cleri-
cal workers have increased only
from two to five times.
Relief Workers Active.
The result is that only with the
families which have children work-
ing is it possible to live on a more
liberal scale than black bread, pota-
toes, a small supply of other vege-
tables, a little rice, and a tiny allow-
ance of fresh pork for Sundays, and
a little corned beef on one or two
other days of the week. Nearly half
a million children below a certain
nourishment standard are fed each
day by the American relief workers,
and a smaller number by the British,
who also organize feeding centres
for mothers. Yet more and more
children fall below this level, and
the necessity of extending the work
so as to include a million children
in the new year is being seriously
discussed. But for this relief the
plight of the children would now
have been hardly less appalling than
that of the Austrian and Polish chil-
dren.
This winter has brought a new
problem. It is impossible for the
average brain or handworkers to buy
clothes. So far the situation in this
respect has not been very serious,
but now hundreds of thousands of
families are wearing their last gar-
ments. Recent examinations in the
schools have shown that a large per-
centage of children have no under-
clothing. Recently more and more
Germans have joined with me Am-
ericans and British in the work of
succor. They now number 30,000,
and they are probably responsible
for a great newspaper drive which
has just been carried out with the
object of trying to shame the new
rich into a realization of their obli-
gations.
All this relief work, however, is
merely palliative, and some of the
best-known industrial leaders are
coming to despair of the possibility
of restoring even a standard of mere
subsistence. The position of many
lower middle class people is even
worse than that of the manual work-
ers. “In another year,” a well-known
university professor said to the cor-
respondent of The Christian Science
Monitor, “we shall be in rags, and
the intellectual life of the country
will be in danger of collapse. Al-
ready the effect of insufficient food
is seen in growing apathy and loss
of initiative among brain workers.”
Austria is sure to be among the
first nations in the League-^alpha-
betically speaking.— Columbis Dis-
patch.
President Wilson gets $40,000 for
the Nobel peace prize; Jack Demp-
sey gets $100,000 for a single fight.
Why be a pacifist? — Columbus Dis-
patch.
Tenderfoot — Why 3o they have
knots on the ocean instead of miles ?
First-class Scout — Well, you see,
they couldn’t have the ocean tide if
there were no knots. — The Yale
Record.
It is expected that Rev. William
Ivens, John Queen and George Arm-
strong, Winnipeg strike leaders, sen-
tenced on April 6 last to serve one
year in jail, will be released in time
to take the seats to which they were
elected at the last provincial elec-
tion.
A DILEMMA.
Nell — Oh, dear, I’m in such a
quandary.
Bell — What is it?
Nell — Jack promises to stop drink-
ing if I marry him and Tom threat-
ens to begin if I don’t. — Boston
Transcript.
WHY, MR. DANIELS!
From Publication 3, Historical
Section, Navy Department:
July 11, 1919. An act authorizing
and appropriating for expenses of N.
. F. schools. . . . “and ‘enlisted
en’ shall embrace women enrolled
in the naval service.” — Legion
Weekly.
HIS PUNISHMENT.
“Doctor,” called the small boy,
“come up to our house, quick!”
“Who is sick at your house?” ask-
ed the doctor.
“Everybody but me. I’d been
naughty, so they wouldn’t give me
any of the nice mushrooms pa pick-
ed in the woods.”*
Wash Day and
Backache ^
^ASH day is the least wel-
come day of the week in
most homes, though sweeping
day is not much better. Both
days are most trying on the
back.
The strain of washing, ironing and
sweeping frequently deranges the
kidneys. The system is poisoned
and backaches, rheumatism, pains in
th-e limbs result.
Kidney action must be aroused
the liver awakened to action and the
bowels regulated by such treatment
as Dr. Chase’s Kidney-Liver Pills.
This favorite prescription of the well-
known Receipt Book author will not
fail you in the hour of heed.
One pill a dese, 25c a box at all dealers,
er Edmanson, Bates ic Co., Ltd., Toronto.
Father^“Helen, isn’t it about
time you were entertaining the pros-
pect of matrimony?”
Daughter — “Not quite, pa. He,
doesn’t call until eight o’clock.” —
The Arklight.
Clergyman (who has sat down
next to* slightly intoxicated man) —
“Do you allow a drunk on this car?”
Conductor (low voice) — “It’s all
right so long as you don’t get noisy.”
First Cocky (on horseback) —
“That cove ye’ve had workin’ for yer
arsked me fur a job this mornin.’
Was he a steady chap, Ryan?”
Second Cocky— “He was. If he'd
ha’ bin inny stiddier he’d ha’ bin
motionless.” — The Bulletin (Syd-
ney).
“I would advise the public to buy
now, because prices will be higher.
Everyone will want goods at the
same time, and manufacturers will
not be able to supply them. It takes
time to manufacture, and when de-
mand exceeds supply, prices go up,”
said R. G. Long, president and gen-
eral manager of R. G. Long & Co.,
Ltd., Toronto, at the annual meet-
ing of the firm’s travellers. Other
business men endorse that view.
I
iiMiiniwiiiiminimnnMmnMii„
Page 6
THE CANADIAN RAILROADER
February 12, 1921
Attacl^s to be Made From
Within the Unions
I T is expected that one's enemies
will attack, and with this know-
ledge forewarned is forearmed,
but it is not expected that one's
friends, or those presuming to be
friends, are going to do anything of
the kind, and when it is done usual-
ly catches the victim unawares.
The responsible organizations of
labor are faced with this sort of
propaganda at this time. It is well
assured that the doctrine of radical-
ism in its several forms, each form
calculated to appeal to its hearers,
is going to be made in as intensive
a manner as possible in the next
few months for the purpose of de-
stroying the established organiza-
tions and replacing them with oth-
er organizations advocating every-
thing from Socialism to Anarchy.
During the progress of the steel
strike the fact developed that the
purpose of the I. W. W. was to dis-
rupt the existing labor organizations
and that when pressure from the
outside failed then it was to be the
practice to get its radical members
into the organizations and have
them bore from within, meaning
thereby through unfair criticism,
attacks on the practices of the or-
ganization and the general encour-
agement of radical doctrine and pur-
pose. It has been said ‘‘the fact
was developed,” and for proof of
that it is only necessary to refer to
the decision of the Executive Coun-
cil of the American Federation of
Labor, which, in arranging for a
reorganization of the steel workers,
removed from the Committee, John
J. Fitzpatrick, Chairman, and Wil-
liam C. Foster, Secretary, to both
of whom had been entrusted the
work of organizing the steel work-
ers prior to the strike, and who
were confessed radicals before, dur-
ing and after the strike. Mr. M. F.
Tighe was elected to succeed Fiti-
patrick and J. G. Brown was ap-
pointed to succeed Foster, both of
whom are reported to be conserva-
tive.
The American Federation of
Labor, at the meeting of its Execu-
tive Council in November, was re-
ported by the press to have declared
its open opposition to, radicalism
within its ranks and announced its
purpose to destroy it. The selection
of new representatives in the re-
organization of the steel workers
seems to bear out this announce-
ment. President Gompers, as is well
known, is opposed to the continued
admission of radicals from any part
of the world, and it is reported the
Federation's representatives will ap-
pear before ' Congressional commit-
tees in protest of the admission of
immigrants from those sections of
the old world that are now torn by
revolutions, ^which clearly are the
work of extremists.
The work of these radical associa-
tions, all of which are of foreign in-
spiration, or under the direction of
foreign born radicals, is being car-
ried on with the knowledge of every
observant resident in the larger
cities. An explanation of how this
work is being done was furnished by
Edward J. Brennan, Division Super-
intendent of the Bureau of Investi-
gation of the Department of Jus-
tice at Chicago, who is reported as
having said:
“It appears that the members of
a great majority of members of the
Communist parties have gone over
to a united communist party that
seems to be maintaining a secrecy
never before attempted by an Amer-
ican radical organization.
“These people appear to be hold-
ing meetings with the utmost sec-
recy with which they can surround
them. Names used appear ficti-
tious.
“The Russian element which form-
ed the backbone of the original Com-
munist party appears to be in con-
trol and to have the bulk of the
membership of the new secret or-
ganization. ♦
‘‘Literature is frequently distri-
buted without any indication as to
where it comes from. In order to
escape detection, it appears that the
party members take unusual pre-
cautions. The members are known
among themselves and literature is
passed around among < them, some-
times by messenger.
“When mailed, we know that it
is done in small quantities, three or
four letters or packages in a box in
one corner of a city and three or
four in a box in another section.
“The party has its largest mem-
bership in Chicago and New York.
In Chicago meetings have been made
extra difficult by the Illinois law,
which forbids renting property to an
outlaw organization of this charac-
ter. Property owners who become
suspicious often call us to make sure
on this point.
“It is my individual conviction
that the United Communist Party,
the old Communist Party and kin-
dred associations of this nature are
unlawful in that they advocate the
overthrow of the government by
force and viodence. '
“The original communist party,
which was organized here a year
ago, took a stand against partici-
pating in elections. This is held to
be of no use and it urged a Bol-
shevik programme. I have no know-
ledge myself of literature being re-
cently distributed urging against
taking part in the presidential elec-
tion, as was reported in press dis-
patches from the east at the time,
but if this was the case, it was in
line with what the party appears to
stand for.”
It would appear that a statement
of this kind could not be made with-
out the proof necessary to substan-
tiate it, and if this is the fact, it
seems that the Government is
strangely remiss in not protecting
itself against the open revolutionary
tactics of its enemies.
Like reports have come at differ-
ent times from every industrial cen-
tre of this country, and it seems
peculiar that a government like ours,
that manifests through National
state legislation a disposition to sup-
press what have always been re-
garded as the legal rights of em-
ployees, would apparently ignore the
determined efforts of radicals to
.spread their doctrine of revolution
and destruction of government. In
the mind of the writer, it only adds
emphasis to the statement so fre-
quently made that the only person
who really obeys the law to-day is
the American citizen who is so
minded.
The railway organizations have
been attacked in the usual way pe-
culiar to the I. W. W. and like as-
sociations in several localities, par-
ticularly the larger terminals. They
have been the subject of criticism
that never should have found place
in the minds of reasonable men, but
when a number of men are dissatis-
fied they are not wholly reasonable
and the effects of such argument
are not easily controlled. Officers
hav^ been subjected to vicious
criticism, which, while not true, was
.auiimmiiMt
FIVE ROSES FLOUR
FOR BREADS -CAKES
PUDDINGS -PASTRIES
Y our neighbour,
famous for her
baking — maybe she
uses Five Roses.
RAILROAD MEN ATTENLION !
Accident and Sickness
IMSTJRAJSfCK
Issued by
The Dominion of Canada
Gnarontee & Accident Insurance Co.
“Canada’s Oldest and Strongest Casualty Company”
LIBERAL POLICIES PROMPT SETTLEMENTS
CLAIMS PAID EXCEED $3,000,000.00
1
C. A. WITHERS,
Managing Director.
COL. A. E. GOODERHAM,
President.
SPECIAL AGENTS
H. C. Perry, 107 Botsford St, Moncton, N.B.
Begin & Berube, Box 200, Riviere De Loup, P.Q.
Thos. McGovern, 1107 Traders Bank Bldg., Toronto.
H. Coker, 1107 Traders Bank Bldg., Toronto.
J. E. Kent, 203* Lindsay Bldg., Winnipeg.
T. G. Iredale, Canada Life Bldg., Calgary.
A. E. Kincaid, Canada Life Bldg., Vancouver.
HEAD OFFICE
TORONTO
BRANCH OFFICES: Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary and
Vancouver.
1^*
February 12, 1921
given credence by too many men;
every disreputable charge of mis-
management, dishonesty, treachery,
and general disregard of the wel-
fare of the members was made to
incite the men to rebellion, and all
the time *‘how it can be done by
revolutionary methods” was held out
as the bait to tempt the unwary
and ambitious. The chance to be
elected an officer in an organiza-
tion ‘‘where all men are free and
equal; where one man is no better
than any other man” sounds well to
an audience of men who listen in
sympathy, and promises much to the
propagandist, but do not all the
“free and equal” advices fall rather
flat in the desire of the propagand-
ists to become leaders of the
“equal,” for even if all men are free
and equal, they recognize the need
for leadership. They Jcnow as well
as anybody knows that the theory
of equality applies only in a limited
sense; that any movement to achieve
success must acquire responsibility
and someone responsible to admin-
ister its affairs, if to no one else
than to its followers. And the man
who sets himself up for leadership,
or is selected, decides that he has
certain superior abilities that his
“equals” do not possess. The fol-
lowers seldom think of this; with
them it is: “The King is dead;
long live the King,” without thought
of who the new king may be, or
what his rule may mean to them.
We had a fair sample of what this
sort of propaganda can do to sup-
posedly bell-balanced men in the
outlaw strike of last spring, when
the railroads were paid for all time
lost, and the followers “lost every-
thing they had in the way of jobs or
seniority.” But, the finish was like^
that of every other movement caused
by artificial means; there were
many pains experienced by the vic-
tims before the climax was reach-
ed and the railroads and the rail-
road organizations purged of all
their . disturbing influences, but we
have it from most reliable authority
that there is now an effort being
made by those who were disap-
pointed last year again to try to ac-
complish from tli/e inside what they
coul dnot do from the outside. Many
of those who were exceedingly ac-
tive and radical in the outlaw strike
are professing penitence and seeking
admission to the organizations for
the sole purpose of attempting to
disorganize and disrupt them. Their
purpose is to deceive by every trick
of word’ and act, to influence mem-
bers to radical declaration and ac-
tion. The promise of one great
strike in the interest of everybody
is the bait, and the inefficiency of
the old organizations is the charge;
both work well together with men
who allow the preachers of ‘‘equali-
ty” to do their thinking for them.
Three of the transportation or-
ganizations, on the most reliable in-
formation, felt it their duty to the
members of their organizations to
advise them of the danger of this
propaganda. They believe it is their
duty to advise what to expect from
those who intend to bore from with-
in, so that there may be no mis-
THE CANADIAN RAILROADER
takes made when the “new revolu-
tion” makes it appearance and ord-
ers another general strike, for that
is the propaganda.
A circular issued by the Engin-
eers, Firemen and Trainmen cover-
ing this question reads as follows:
Cleveland, Ohio, Dec. 24, 1920.
Officers and Members of Divisions
and Lodges of the B. of L. E.,
B. of L. F. & E. and B. of R. T.
Sirs and Brothers: —
From a source that we accept as
reliable, we have learned that ^the
officers and members of the “I. W.
W.” with headqquarters in hte City
of Chicago have decided that the
activities of that organization this
winter will be centred on the rail-
roads, coal mines and building
trades. It is stated that if they can
tie up the transportation lines of
the country and cut down coal trans-
portation, that will tie up the indus-
tries and bring on a revolution. It
is stated that they are going to start
a big campaign in Chicago and have
ten speakers ready at this time to
talk on the down-town street corn-
ers of that city. It is stated that
they have also employed a repre-
sentative of the colored population
of Chicago, where it is believed that
there is a great deal of unrest.
It is stated that the chairman of
the general organization committee
of the I. W. W. says that at this
time they are making preparations
for the biggest campaign in the his-
tory of the I. W. W. to get members
fro mthe different brotherhoods of
the railroads and that within the
next sixty days the I. W. W. will
have representatives in all the rail-
road organizations and that the
thing they have to do is to get good,
live speakers into the centre of the
A. F. of L. organizations and blow
them up from the inside. It is re-
ported that at the present time the
I. W.W. are printing, at their head-
quarters in the City of Chicago,
fourteen publications in twelve dif-
ferent languages, which indicates
from what source the expense of
this propaganda is being paid.
Being thus “forewarned” our
members should be “forearmed.” If
in any division or lodge of these
organizations evidence of this move-
ment is observed, you are requested
to immediately communicate such
information to your chief executive,
and take such action as you deem
necessary to protect the interests of
your respective organizations.
Fraternally yours,
W. S. STONE,
Grand Chief Engineer, B. of L. E.
W. J. CARTER,
President, B. of L. F. & E.
W. G. LEE,
President, B. of R. T.
HIS FAVORITE STYLE.
“How will you have your eggs
cooked?” asked the waiter.
“Make any difference in the cost
of 'em?” inquired the cautious cus-
tomer with the brimless hat and the
ragged beard.
“No.”
“Then cook them on the top of a
slice of ham,” said the customer,
greatly relieved.
SIDE-imES
By KENNEDY CRONE
44^-|-1HE SCRATCH,” an eight-
J|_ page fortnightly published
by a group of McGill Uni-
versity students interested in litera-
ture and other queer things, came
into the office recently as a print-
ing job.
It might have come in and gone
out for years as a purely commercial
proposition had it not been for the
chance remark of a printer that it
“wasn't bad.”
To the lay mind a remark of the
sort would not be likely to quicken
interest or curiosity. To those who
know printers it comes almost as a
sensational announcement, as if
someone had shouted “fire”! or the
office cat had waved its tail too
near to the clutches of the big
press.
Long years ago I committed the
terrible error that I ' have seen
many other cock-sure Dickenses
commit since then — of going to
the printer for sympathy when the
editor was more callous than usual.
It is comparable to the state of hav-
ing received one black eye, and, in
the search for a beefsteak, encount-
ering another black eye and the
loss of a couple of front teeth.
The printer is liable to confuse
your contribution to the literature
of the age with some patent medi-
cine advertisement, or to tell you
not to worry about what an' editor
does, as nobody reads your stuff,
anyway, except the poor printer,
who has to do it for a living. I
never knew a printer to show much
sign of emotion about anything any-
body wrote unless he was concern-
ed with the handwriting of it, or
with questions of time and space.
Then his emotions were quite bub-
bly. The printer thinks in “ems,” a
mechanical measurement, and al-
though he may be, ^ and often is,
quite a student off duty, on duty
he is usually frightfully bored con-
cerning the quality of “copy”; it is
just “copy” to be copied; I suspect
that he would chuck away the last
act in Hamlet if it did not happen
to fit in nicely with his figuring. '
So when a printer says of a job
that it “wasn't b^d” from a read-
ing standpoint, it is time to search
for the cause of such a remarkable
ooze of sentiment — comparatively
speaking. On enquiry it was found
that “The Scratch” had a right to
live.
It is largely devoted to book re-
views, separated from the thought
of publishing house advertising and
from the clever and not so clever
cautiousness of. the seasoned book
reviewer, which is very refreshing.
The reviews are the untramelled
viewpoints of studious young men
of the type who will be our public
lights before long, and it is interest-
ing to laborists to note the broad
and progressive thought on labor
Page 7
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons milk
7 tablespoons flour
X teaspoon vanilla
extract
5 tablespoons pulver-
ized sugar
2 tablespoons Cowan’s
Cocoa
1 tablespoon chopped
nuts
Method: — Add the milk,
drop by drop, to creamed
sugar and butter, stirring
constantly. Add slowly the
flour mixed with cocoa.
Brush pan with butter.
Drop from end of spoon and
sprinkle w^itli nuts. Dust
with cinnamon. Bake in a
slow oven until brown.
aiiz
matters and sociological matters
generally, a happy augury for the
future. Snobocracy and class privi-
lege have no room in “The Scratch.”
Some of the special articles are
fine. In the last number there is
an eerie tale of the Unknowns dis-
cussing the burial of the unknown
soldier in Westminster Abbey; it
gives some new thoughts in an able
and striking way worthy of some of
the best magazine writers.
The publication is only in its
fourth number, but it already has
quite a circulation as well. It is a
small venture so far, yet there is
nothing of its sort in the country
that is just as good. If it came
into this office as a job it now goes
through and out as a blood relation.
Mayor Charlton, of Galt, an-
nounces that all the unemployed of
that city have been taken care of
by the starting of public works.
Page 8
THE CANADIAN RAILROADER
February 12, 1911
Cibe Canabtan Jiatlroaber
— WEEKLY *
The Official Or^an of
The Fifth Sunday Meeting Association of Canada
ORGANIZED SEPTEMBER 1916
Incorporated under Dominion Letters Patent.
April. 1919.
J. A. WOODWARD, President
J. N. POTVIN. Vice-President
W. F, BERRY, Sec.-Treasurer
C.P.R. Conductor
C.P.R, Train Dispatcher
G.T.R, Conductor
EXTCVriVK COMMITTEB:-S. DALE. C.P.R. Engineer; D. TRINDALL
PAUW^^’^L J HOGAN. C.P.R. Asst. Roadnvster; ARCmE DU-'
JKUm C.P.*. Engineer: S. PUGH. G.T.R. Conducto;; Z /a'rsOnTc.G.I’
The Canadian Railroader was founded by railroaders is
lartely supported by railroaders, and is issued in thelnSes?
of railroaders and all other workers by hand or brain.
Yearly ■tthtcriytion! $3.00;
Single Copies; 10 cents
Published weekly by
THE CANADIAN RAILROADER LIMITED
SU LAGAUCHKTIBRE ST. W., Coroer Beaver Hall Hii MONTREAL
Telephones MAIN 6222
17
GBORGB PIBRCB, Editer
KENNEDY CRONE. Managing Editor
The Ghouls Parade
the newspapers, entered the Morgue to view Sie body®'^°'’®’
be abolished!^^ E^ery* person” enterfn? m should
obliged to state in writinrhis ^rTl*^® be
examine a body, and more general effort wi^shing to
merely curious: general effort made to weed out the
— Kennedy Crone,
railroader is a carrier and
interpreter of the news and views of
the common people.
impediments” are really being placed by the manufacturers
and seem to suggest that some wood products manufacturer who
kJSness!®^ certificate might get a lot of British
Canadian workers would object to British manuTactured
products entering Canada without guarantee that these were
produced by workers getting fair treatment, and Canadian manu!
tS of eS.rm'cs'’
— Kennedy Crone,
The P ertical Trust
A ^bat the
trollS bv T V" ^be hands of giant trusts con-
princes Thv«in w * Stinnes and his rival trust
Hkewise^that ■ ^/^^‘^bner, and Strumm. We are told
wSe thrtrnS ^ the one country in the world to-day
minsters or himIdP meets with no opposition either from state
greatSt Cprr^pf ^ workers, and that in November last the
Srs L?emX w representative labor
trusffsS vSSTust
y, finished manufactures from pig iron and steel ingots
completed machinery, kettles, saucepans, and wire'i^ils
«rks I and™ ftS*
Serial conppvne smply a fusion of similar raw
mSris the kS pf + ^^'"isbing concerns. That in the
Sw teust is n^f i-p ^ .bad up to the present. The
ew trust IS out to control a branch of industry right from its
basic raw materials to its final finished products! ^
be assured pnwL ‘^^H^try.” declares Hugo Stinnes, “can
so effective Ip b^ c®”^bination ; and there is no combination half
biVprivatSrSt ” ’ productive or so economical, as the
dier^nositSrL?®-^''^ "^be very desperateness of
i!.pn,?pf^ + ber salvation, and by a curious
of k!.r she may yet find herself in better shape than any
qpp^T enemies. Lnrestricted private enterprise with its
senseless competition and waste is now the order of the day
‘ of thPsT ^bis continent and in France and Britain, and te each
stricfp^^ countries unemployment grows steadily worse. Unre-
stricted private competition needs for its' safe and comfortable
Sth^th!ffl unemployed to be hired and fired
fluctuations of markets or the exigencies of individual
businesses. It necessitates what the Montreal Gazette calls a
heap and plentiful supply of contented labor” — with all the
drffS Wk te 'T- This appears to be S we ar^
teSer oS pMpli'' “ i" 'te" »* the present
drift'^^Tf'^^^i*^^^ ^®i organizing against such a
, u ^ perfectly logical arrangement. It is the wav in
which each and every nation’s industry should be organized ^Its
few^and^n ^be hands of a
lew and in the antiquated assumption that the benefits resultinir
from such an ordered and obvioas scheme sh“fd be flowed
to find their way into the pockets either of trust kine's or nf
if thl instead of into the coffers of the state. However
proper state control of industry, let
us have proper private control by all means. Let us hav^ver-
tical trusts to go on with. For there can be little doubt that once
such machinery IS erected and in operation it will only be a ques-
tion of time till the people become fully alive as to whom the
owners of such machinery really are, and act accordingly.
— George Daniels.
I
'Impediments” Easy to Remove
As a result of the mild weather
which has diminished the demand
for coal, and caused the sheds to
be filled up the railways are ex-
periencing difficulty in getting deal-
ers to unload their coal cars quickly
enough to get them back into the
carrying service.
Verdun Labor club is urging the
Government to commence the build-
ing of the dyke on the river front,
and the new post office to relieve
unemployment.
Winnipeg assembling plant of the
Ford Motor Company of Canada,
which has been practically closed
since November, re-opened last
Wednesday, without cutting wages.
TALENTED.
Hepsy — That boy of ours seems
mighty fond of tendin’ to other folks
business.
Hiram — Guess we’ll hev to make
a lawyer of him. Then hell git
paid 'for doin' of it— -Boston Tran-
script.
February 12, 1921
THE CANADIAN RAILROADER
Page 9
Montrealer s Gloomy Impressions
of Visit to England
{By ** Montr Calais^*)
A fter an absence of five
months in England my first
impression on landing in
Canada a few days ago was one of
a country enjoying a degree of nor-
mality unknown to-day in England,
where conditions are chaotic in the
extreme. Perfect organization mark-
ed the disembarkation of passeng-
ers and their baggage at St. John;
the special train conveying the pas-
sengers to Montreal was clean and
well-warmed, in contrast to the Eng-
lish trains, which have sadly de-
teriorated from their pre-war stand-
ard of excellence. In Montreal,
which is the first Canadian ctiy I
have had the opportunity of visit-
ing since my return, the people ap-
pear better dressed and more pros-
perous than the inhabitants of Eng-
■jsh cities; the public services far
inore efficient, and the general at-
mosphere one of optimism and
energy in comparison with the un-
settled state in which the Great War
has left the Old Country.
This may be but a surface im-
pression, and influenced in part per-
hapi^, by the normal difference in
atmosphere between Canada and
England, but the fact remains that
to a Canadian returned from Eu-
rope, Canada appears as a country
living under infinitely better social
and industrial conditions than the
Motherland.
Nothing in a nation^s life strikes
the visitor from abroad so obviously
as its tran^ortation system, and
transport in England to-day is far
inferior to that in Canada. On the
main line steam railway trains are
less frequent, slower, and are less
scrupulously clean than in pre-war
days; and judged by Canadian
standards the heating arrangements
are decidedly deficient. In Lon-
don, despite the multiplicity of
trains, tubes, trams and busses, the
transportation problem assumes the
proportions of a nightmare, with
hordes of city workers, both male
and female, Struggling for entrance
into suburban-bound vehicles. In
this connection, however, it is only
fair to. state that the congestion is
gradually being relieved by the ad-
dition of new tube trains and motor
omnibuses, the normal construction
of which was held up by the war.
In the matter of food, too, Can-
ada is far more fortunate than Eng-
land, where butter and eggs, to men-
tion two principal articles of diet,
are very scarce and expensive. In
the restaurants butter is never
served unless specially asked for,
and all articles of food retail at con-
siderably higher prices than in Can-
ada. It is true that there has been
a marked reduction in the price of
clothing, but this applies only to
the cheaper grades, and good cloth-
ing is as expensive in London to-day
as it has been for months past. With
the slump in the shoe industry the
price of footwear has come down
with a run, and it is interesting to
note that Canadian-made shoes of
good quality could be bought at
the New Year sales in London for
$6 a pair.
But it is in the mental attitude
of the man in the street that the
most striking difference is notice-
able by the returned Canadian. In
England, it is no exaggeration to
say, there is a feeling of profound
pessimism among all classes, which
has no counterpart in Canada.
Despite the optimistic tone in
some sections of the 'English press,
there is a real underlying note of
concern for the present and anxiety
for the future manifest among a
populace harrassed by the eternal
strife between Capital and Labor,
the seemingly unsolvable problem
of unemployment, th^^ depreciation
of the pound in terms of necessary
commodities, the chaotic state of
continental Europe, and the Irish
situation; to mention but a few of
the factors which are rendering life
difficult for all classes in Britain in
this period of after-war reaction.
Undoubtedly the most pressing
problem is that of unemployment.
Well over a million workers in
staple industries are drawing out-of-
work pay on a scale which is alto-
gether inadequate to maintain them-
selves and their families, so that
there is widespread suffering and
privation among the working
classes. In London and the big pro-
vincial cities parades of the workers
are a daily occurrence, and long
queues of women workers can fre-
quently be seen shivering in the cold
and rain waiting to receive their
unemployment doles outside the
Labor Exchanges.
Relief measures in the form of
arterial road construction have been
started by the Government and the
various municipal authorities, but
these have absorbed but a fraction
of the unemployed, and Mr. Lloyd
George has publicly announced that
the Government is helpless to com-
bat the situation. It has been sug-
gested that the trade unions absorb
their own unemployed by a system
of dilution, but Labor at once saw
the folly of this scheme in that it
would lower the income bf all work-
ers below the subsistence level, and
promptly vetoed it. But beyond
sharing in the cry of the Liberal
press for the opening up of trade
with Russia, orthodox Labor has not
yet come forward with any work-
able solution of the problem.
It was to be expected that the left
wing of the Labor movement, popu-
larly known as ‘lextremists,'' would
seek to utilize the woes atten(||nt
upon widespread unemployment to
further their object of th^ socializa-
tion of industry, but until the con-
ditions of life for the ^masses be-
come much more intolerable than
they are even at present there is
little prospect of communist propa-
ganda bearing fruit.
In the Irish question there is
sharp divergence of opinion, but all
are shocked by the tragic conditions
in the sister isle. The Liberal and
Labor press are loud in their con-
demnation of the Government’s pol-
icy towards Ireland, but here, too,
there seems to be no solution to the
problem which would be acceptable
to all parties.
Under the stress of post-war con-
ditions the nation, then, appears be-
wildered, blundering blindly along
new paths without the guidance of
old sanctions, which have melted in
the furnace of war. England in com-
mon with the greater part of the
civilized world appears to be going
through a period of transition, the
outcome of which none can deter-
mine, but the effects of which are
apparent on all sides. In short, a
visit to the British Isles in 1921
leaves the impression of a people
groping in the dark for a way out
with uncertain steps but with a ten-
acity of purpose which is charac-
teristic of the race.
Make^ of wooden boxes in Mont-
real have formed a trade organiza-
tion called the Wooden Box Manu-
facturers’ Section of ^the Canadian
Manufacturers’ Association.
THE SPORTING INSTINCT.
Johnny liked ice cream, but he
drew the line at turning the freezer.
One day when his mother returned
home she was agreeably surprised to
find him working away at the crank
as thought his life depended on it.
“I don’t' see how you get him to
turn the freezer,” she said to her
husband: ‘T offered him a dime to
do it.”
“You didn’t go at if in the right
way, my dear,” replied the husband.
“I bet him a nickel he couldn’t turn
it for half an hour.”
“He calls it a Portrait of a Lady’.”
“He’s alone in his belief. The art-
ists say it’s no portrait and the
women say she’s no lady.” — Louis-
ville Courier-Journal.
Mrs. Flitterby — So you are on the
visiting committee of your social
workers’ society. I should think
you’d find it dreadfully irksome
making all those slum calls.
Mrs. Hunter-Fadde — I’m willing
to making the sacrifice for a good
cause. Every visiting day I send
my maid around with my cards. —
Judge.
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i^ailroatier
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also read by many othei^s interested in progress of the people
It advocates reforms by —
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CONSTRUCTION, not Chaos
REASON, not Ranting
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Date
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Address
Interior of Car With Hopper Closed.
Two features which make this new equipment particularly suitable for
service on a road with a heavy grain traffic, stand out strongly in the design ^of these
latest box cars now being built for the Canadian Pacific Railway. The limit load
which the cars will carry is 60^ tons, the floor having special hopper bottoms which
are designed to facilitate unloading of bulk material and to eliminate the need for
temporary grain doors. The new cars are 40 ft. 6 in., long, 8 ft. 6 in. wide and 9 ft
high inside.
The cars are bulit with steel under frames, steel side frames, corrupated steel ends
and outside metal roofs. All carline flanges are covered with strips of wood arranged
to prevent the accumulation of dust that might be shaken down from time to time
and possibly damage the lading.
Hoppers of the Burnett type are located at the side door opening on each side of
the car. When used for freight that cannot be dumped through the hopper the car
has a solid level floor the same as an ordinary box car. When grain, coal, etc., are to
be loaded, the specially-constructed sections of floor over the hoppers are turned up
• against the side door post. This arrangement allows the load to go directly into the
hoppers, and also saves considerable temporary door lumber. When the cars are
unloaded it is only necessary to remove the pin that locks the hopper doors; the doors
open quickly by gravity.
Special care has been taken to obtain a side door of satisfactory design. The inter-
locking front and back edges afford exceptional protection against weather and pilfer-
ing. The top edge is weatherproof, yet so arranged that it cannot become blocked with
ice. The bottom of the door is fitted with turned rollers that fit on a very substantial
and rigidly supported track. The trucks are of the standard arch bar type with
improved truck columns, spring plank and truck column fastenings, pinless brake beam,
hanger brackets and four point brake beam suspension. This type of truck has given
the best satisfaction of any so far used by this railway.
V
The Hopper, When Open, Discharges Outside the Track.
Floor S^tion Raised for Loading Grain.
J.
■V
itantial
>. with
February 12, 1921
THE CANADIAN RAILROADER
Page 11
The StriJ^e in Nova Scotia
A Statement by Officers of Railroad Organizations
The strike of the engineers, firemen, conductors and brake-
men employed by The Dominion Iron & Steel Company and the
Nova Scotia Steel & Coal Company continues at this writing.
The story of the strike was explained in detail in the issue
of January 22nd, but in order to emphasize the arbitrary action
of the two corporations and the comparatively low wage paid
to the employees affected, it is believed a further review will be
interesting and timely.
The employees of the companies affected endeavored to
secure a wage rate that would be equal to, or closer to, the going
rate paid for like service by the railways than was being paid by
the companies approached. The representatives of the em-
ployees proposed that a Board of Investigation be appointed,
composed of the six railway officials representing the Canadian
railroads on Canadian Railway Board of Adjustment No. 1, and
agreed to abide by whatever decision might be rendered by. that
Board, but the Nova Scotia Steel & Coal Company, with which
negotiations were being directly conducted, refused to have any-
thing to do with the proposition. When all of the efforts of the
employees to bring about an adjustment of their differences
failed, application was made to the Department of Labor under
date of November 1st, 1920, for a Board of Conciliation and In-
Xvestigation pnder the provisions of the Industrial Disputes In-
vestigation Act, 1907, and under date of November 10, 1920,
the employees were advised by the Registrar that the property
in question did not come under the previsions of the Act,
although it has been declared to be a railway by the Attorney
General’s Department of the Provincial Government, of Nova
^^^^The final effort on the part of the men and its failure to
secure an investigation and possible adjustment of their demands
left them without further recourse, except to leave the service
of the Company. It was quite apparent that if negotiations
' could not b© concluded with The Nova Scotia Steel & Coal
, pany, recognized as a railway, it would be futile to attempt to
do anything of the kind with The Dominion Iron & Steel Com-
pany. Therefore, in the firm belief that there was every justi-
fication for their decision, the employees of these companies
decided that a strike- be declared against both of them on Novem-
ber 22, 1920, which strike is still in- effect. . , j t» •,
The Sydney & Louisburg Railway and the Cumberland Rail-
way & Coal Company are owned and controlled by The Dominion
Iron & Steel Company. November 29, 1920, the yard and road
iron CZ/ y ,
employees of the Sydney & LauisburgM^^
standard wage rates. Decembe
sranuaiu December 7, 1920, the same classes of
employees on the Cumberland Railway & Coal Company were
allowed standard rates of pay. Bear m mmd that the engineers,
firemen, conductors and yardmen of The Dominion Iron & Stee
Company, the Sydney & Louisburg Railway, and the Cumberland
Railway & Coal Company are all working for the same colora-
tion namely : The Dominion Coal Company. Railroad employees
of The Dominion Iron & Steel Company perform exactly the same
classes of switching service as other railroad men handling cars
in yards perform, while the work is more hazardous because of
the dangerous conditions incident to inside work in steel indus-
tries, and because of inadequate and unsafe
The rates of pay will not bear comparison. Standard hourly
rates in yard services are: Engineers 88c., firemen 70c., con-
ductors 88c., brakemen 81c., with time and one-half for over-
time after eight hours. The hourly rates pai^d by the Dominion
Iron & Steel Company for yard service are: Engineers 64c., fire-
men 50c., conductors 60c., brakemen 50c., witoout extia com-
pensation for overtime. The rates paid ^ the Nova Scotia Steel
&r Coal Comnanv in yard service are: Engineers 57c., fiiemen
44c. conductors 50c., brakemen 44c., with no extra allowances
for overtime. The employees of the two steel corporations were
on ri2 hour day basis. Taking, by comparison, the standard
hourly rates with time and one-half for overtime, and the rates
paid by the steel corporations without time and
pfffbt hours it will be seen that the wage rates by the two
corporations involved approximate 50 per cent of the standard
r 3 ,tes p 3 «id on C3.n3.di3»n r3-ilw3.ys.
Reference to the earnings of these two corporations will
V. tir +Vls^■^ tbev were enormously increased during the period of
They also will show that during that Pe^od dividend
aervici to the effect that a
uniform eight hour day became generally operative with toe
and one-half for all time worked in excess of eight houre. The
men in railway service on the properties of the two steel cor-
porations involved made request for increased rates of pay and
t^he shorter work day, but they were denied, and believing that
thev were wholly justified in attempting to force the issue, they
decided that rather than to continue to work under such dis-
advantageous conditions they would leave the service of their
employers and take their chances of forcmg the demanded and
justifiable increase in wages and reduction m the number of
hours, before which overtime rates should become effective.
These employees, as has been stated, were required to work
on a 12 hour day basis. Standard railway conditions reqquire
men to work eight hours a day with pay at time and one-half
rates for all time worked in excess of eight hours. It is herein
shown that the hourly rates paid the steel corporation employees
were far below standard, and without time and one-half for
overtime their wages were approximately 50 per cent of the
standard rates, which is an injustice that should appeal to every
The steel corporations set up the claim that the men were not railway
empSLs and inconsequence wW not entitled to same cons^
Ma rail wav emnlovecs. other steel companies m Canada, the largest oi
whkh E the Adgoma Steel Corporation, paid the standard going for
Tai wan emrtoyeenntil after tL strike of the steel corporations in Nova
3rNCTm« to
lydilSySIJd Sydney Mines, and that it would be almost impossible tot them
“ VSSfe ‘"asS'p-Sl-nlfwlK rt'yTb'.fihey believed they bad the
feaTI^ the se^ice it a time that would place them in a position of advant-
A reTew if T^Camfngr'of The Dominion Iron & Steel Company will
" ‘^"SthCufd'cinvfnnn ri^ The Dominion Steel Corpora-
*ti™ineT\o“ma1SS C^LC^rit^fit? dlvideidsli^h com-
fn’l9lf^exceed by $10 000 the total^amounts^paid^in^lOn
dividend on common stock _ -iqi^ of $2 500 000 which is reflected in
stock dividend paid November 30 1917, of $2,500
gSowTo” Sr2*de.d''hTbe“n" “aid SS
Stock created in 1917. How much of these returns are on actual investment
^"^ThTsXwingCffhe'liiiiiw and trasactions of these two
lioi & Steel ciJnpkny and by The Nova Scotia Steel & Coal Company were
r''min''to!flU«« eSd Snd to p^ulrf tat Miet’aftov all .«»«.
•i* 4-r\ ttni ayor*
(Signed) JAMES MURDOCK,
Vice-President,
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.
giSv Awa^d^the^^^^^^^^^^ -n iKel^feC disadvantages and
corporations is the one. ^ for leaving the service, or for
any disposition to t p statement can be substantiated
unfairly influencing public the Canadian public fairly
by proof. These questions are of thl attitude of
and squarely so that there niay oe leave the ser-
xb. sc«,i. st.a..tb
Coal Company, November 22, 1920.
(Signed) GEO. K. WARK,
Vice-President,
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
& Enginemen.
Also repr^sent^g The Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers.
Page 12
THE CANADIAN RAILROADER "
Miss Yurovsky, the belle of Ekaterinburg and a leader in one of
the Bolshevik anti-Christian societies, lives within plain sight of the
house where her father murdered the ex-Czar and his family.
T he young woman pictured here is Miss Yurovsky, daughter of Yankel Yuroy.
*t ri ! ‘he ex-Czar and his family. She is the belle
of Ekaterinburg and is engaged to marry (if not already wedded to)
Sosnovsky the chief figure of the ‘Workmen’s and Soldiers Deputies of Ekater-
M *!S"ed the death warrant executed by Yuroysky. Capt.
.McCiillagh, who interyiewed. Ytrovsky, giyes ; ir descriptior. of he /otng.
T\.fcn a very handsome girl, niso of strongly Jewish type and about seven-
.een yesrs old, came into the room. She was Yuro /shy’s daughter. She is head
u- L t Communist Youth,’ a sort of inversion of the Y M. C. A
ivh ch ahe Bo.shevis^s have established all over Russia with the idea of :v inginjr
up tl^ rising generation in strict Socialist and anti-Christian principles. ”
Y^rc vsky and his family live in one of the best houses in .Tkater nbjrg only
a short c istance from -nd within iew of the house where the 'mperial *amiV
, f Although provided with a li"e post under the jove. .ment
er d furp.s|ed v it.i ample food and otJ er creatur> comforts, ♦ho sicye ov the
Czar s a wreck of a man and s dying fast from heart disease, Capt. McCul-
’a^h G«ys.
‘‘THE BRASS CHECK.”
(The Churchman, New
York).
It would be wholesome
for public opinion to have
this book in the hands of
a million readers. The
facts which Mr. Sinclair
has collected and set forth
in this volume, dealing
with the suppression and
falsification of news by
the Associated Press and
American journals gener-
ally, ought to be refuted
or something ought to be
done to reinstate truth in
the heart of American
journalism. If enough
people were to read the
testimony which the au-
thor brings to bear to
support his charges, either
Mr. Sinclair would be
compelled to answer to
the charge of libel or the
Associated Press would
be forced to set its house
in order.
CRITICISM OF THE
PRESS.
(Edward Moore in The
New Age, London).
Political news is not
told as news but as pro-
paganda; the newspapers,
in other words, are filed,
not with facts, but with
suggestion. This is in
reality what is called the
power of the press. It in-
duces new moods in the
public, and makes possible
the destruction, or, rath-
er, let us say, the indefin-
ite prolongation of gov-^
ernments by the most vul-
gar kind of hypnotism.
Thus the public are made
to live in a sort of day-
dream in which Mr. Lloyd
George and Mr. Bonar
Law are the phantoms, as
unlike the real Mr. Lloyd
George and Mr. Bonar
Law as one's dreams are
unlike the repressions in
the unconscious which
throw them up. And the
distortion which the press
imposes upon persons it
imposes still more suc-
cessfully upon ideas. . . .
W. G. Raymond, postmaster of
Brantford, at the Stratford Chamb-
er of Commerce luncheon, gave a
notable patriotic message. “We have
got past the stage of judging Can-
ada by its mileage,” he said. “We
are now a nation, and must be
judged by our race.”
At the telephone rate inquiry at
Ottawa officials of the Bell Tele-
phone Company stated that the
wage increases given in the past
few years were small compared
with those given by industrial con-
cerns, and, under present living con-
ditions, there was no possib^ity of
a decrease of wages to operators.
“Crop failures?” asked the old- most nothing. We cooked some for
timer. “Yes, I’ve seen a few in my dinner, and my father ate fourteen
day. In 1864 the corn crop was al- acres of corn at one meal.”— Life.
TRAOK mark
Railroad Gauntlets
Made of Genuine Chrome Tan Railroad Stock
BEST VALUES IN CANADA
OUTWEAR ALL OTHERS
. SOLD EVERYWHERE IN CANADA
MADE BY
ACME GLOVE WORKS LTD., MONTREAL
February 12, 1921
ms
THEATRES
n n
MONTREAL
TORONTO
OTTAWA
HAMILTON
LONDON
WINDSOR
n n
POPULAR PRICES
Excellent Entertainment
REAL
FOOD
ECONOMY
Us
PORK
AND
BEANS
Provide strength
giving food at
least possible cost.
W. CLARK, Limited
MONTREAL
February 12, 1921
THE CANADIAN RAILROADER
1
The Railroadmen’s Reliance for Accident and Health Insurance
THE GLOBE INDEMNITY COMPANY OF CANADA
(Formerly The Canadian Railway Accident Insurance Co.)
Head Office: MONTREAL
This Company has made a specialty of Railroadmen’s Accident and Health Insurance since the date of its inception and has insured
more railroadmen and paid more in claims to them than any other Company in Canada.
PROMPT AND LIBERAL SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS
T. KEHOE, Calgary
OWEN McGUIRE, Edmonton
ANDREW LAKE, Winnipeg
GEORGE PIKE, Winnipeg
EDMUND DAWSON, Winnipeg
E. E. WEST, Brandon
LEWIS O’BRIEN, Fort William
E. W. PURVIS, Fort William
W. AUBRY, North Bay
W. F. WILSON, Toronto
J. M. STARKE, Farnham
WILFRED LAFORTUNE, Montreal
E. PINARD, Montreal
J. A. PELLETIER, Montreal
R. T. MUNRO, Montreal
A. M. McLELLAN, Moncton
T. P. McKENNA, West St. John
ROBERT F. KERR, New Glasgow
B. F. PORTER, Truro
A. Y. McDonald, Glace Bay
J. B. STEWART, New Glasgow
ASSETS OVER $70,000,000.00 (Seventy Million Dollars)
J. GARDNER THOMSON#
PRESIDENT
JOHN EMO
GENERAL MANAGER & SECRETARY
WANTED TO SEE HOW
THE PEOPLE LIVED.
(Alfred Buckley, M.A., in Woman^s
Century, Toronto).
Mrs. Barnett, the founder of the
Hampstead garden suburb, recently
visited Canada and was the recipient
of abundant hospitality for which
she did not fail to express great
appreciation. She was shown round
the cities, and the generosity of her
hosts and hostesses invariably led
them to offer her the best that was
to be seen: fine public buildings,
parliament houses with marble cor-
ridors, mansions and parks. The
present writer accompanied her on
several of these drives. She would
glance at the buildings but would
invariably decline the invitation to
explore them. There was often a
look of worry and impatience on her
face which was finally explained by
the question, understand you have
some slums?” “Oh, yes,” would be
the reply, “but (smilingly) we were
not showing those.” “I want to see
how the people live,” Mrs. Burnett
would say. “Will you show me the
slums?”
As the tour proceeded Mrs. Bur-
nett began to make her wishes
known at the beginning of the
drives. She would say, “You know,
my time is very limited and I am
nearly seventy years old and I may
never see Canada again. I don’t
much want to see your banks, hotels
and town halls. I can see these any-
where. I want to see how the peo-
ple live.”
As a newspaper man the present
writer had been in the entourage
of many distinguished visitors who
had been shown the sights of the
city. This was the first time he
had ever heard anyone say “I want
to see how the people live.”
Here was a woman who for forty
years had been living in the spirit
of her husband’s aspiration, “The
best for the lowliest,” and had built
an almost ideal town where the low- .
liest could dwell with the highest
and have comfort, cleanliness, fresh
air and beauty for the refreshment
of their bodies and souls. She wish-
ed to see what the lowliest were
getting in their home life and be-
cause of her fear of offending that
foolish local amour propre that will
not look at facts she could only
speak in private of the shameful
land sweating, the overcrowding, the
ugliness and sordidness in which the
homes of thousands of people were
embedded.
INDUSTRIAL NOTES.
On the second charge as on the
first of stealing railway tickets
from the C. P. R., David J. Carson,
a conductor on the line between Tor-
onto and Hamilton was found not
guilty, and the Crown Attorney an-
nounced that a third charge would
not be pressed, but a formal verdict
of not guilty would be rendered.
Montreal Board of Trade has cir-
cularized its 2,200 members asking
the mto exert themselves to give
the maximum employment possible.
MACI
CUT
BRIER
More Tobacco
* For the Money
Packages
15c.
lb. Tins
85c.
{By Frank Morrison, Secretary ^ American
Federation of Labor).
T he union shop is democracy
in industry. The right of
employees to bargain collec-
tively, to have a voice in working
conditions, is recognized.
In the non-union shop this de-
mocracy is unknown. Paternalism
and autocracy is the rule. The em-
ployer is absolute. He is the sole
judge of working conditions. He
sets hours and wages and tells his
employees they may accept same or
quit their employment. If the work-
er quits, and suffering to his wife
and children result, the employer
calls this “freedom of contract!”
This employer dislikes the term
non-union” shop, so he refers to
his plant as “open” shop. The term
is misleading and is intended to de-
ceive. The inconsistency of the so-
called “open” shop employer is
shown when he says he makes no
distinction between union and non-
union employees and then fills his
plant with spies to report any union
employee who has been discovered
discussing the value of trade union-
ism.
These employers know that in this
age of organization it is unwise to
announce that they are opposed to
trade unions. So they employ just
enough trade unionists to serve as
an alibi against the charge that
they oppose trade unions, but they
do not employ enough trade union-
ists to dispute the employer's abso-
lute and complete control over work-
ing conditions. If these organized
workers advocate trade unionism
they are discharged.
The unions hold that organized
labor sets the standards for work-
ers and that it is just as logical that
all workers assist in maintaining
these standards as it is for all citi-
zens to pay taxes.
The so-called “open” shop employ-
would not approve a citizen
shirking his duties as a taxpayer,
out does favor his employees shirk-
ing their duties to their fellows. The
reason for the latter position is ap-
parent. The employer profits by
this shirking, which permits him to
set wages, hours and working con-
ditions. But more than this he re-
tains complete power over his em-
ployees.
He may arrange welfare societies
in his plant. He may have a pension
system for those employees who
serve him faithfully, and who just
as faithfully abstain from trade
union membership. He may conduct
a system of athletics and recreation
for his employees and provide them
with model work rooms, but above
and beyond all these there is no ele-
ment of democracy in his plant. He
denies his employees collective bar-
gaining, and therefore controls the
lives of these workers. He sets their
living standards. He orders. His
workers accept. They are denied an
equality enjoyed by union shop em-
ployees.
Non-union shop employees accept
the welfare work of an employer,
but they do it at the price of their
liberty. Their grievances are sub-
ject to the good will of the employ-
er. He may remedy them, but he
does it because he is a “good boss”
and not because his employees stand
up as men and demand justice.
If the grievance is not adjusted
the employee must accept onerous
conditions or quit. If an individual
quits, that is nothing to the em-
ployer.
Just Like Slave-Holders.
Fundamentally there is no differ-
ence between the non-union ^op
employer and the slave owner be-
fore the civil war. In both cases
the employer and the slave owner
are absolute. Both provided amuse-
ment for their workers. The slave
owner prided himself on being “a
good master.” The non-union em-
ployer says; “I protect my em-
ployees.”
In neither case was the slave or
is the employee permitted to pro-
tect themselves.
In the union shop this autocratic
rule does not exist. Here, the em-
ployees have a collective voice in
working conditions. The employer
concedes that democracy in indus-
try is possible and that welfare work
IS not a substitute for democracy.
The union employer is not inter-
ested in welfare work or in “pro-
tecting” his employees. He treats
them as citizens who can furnish
their own amusements and recrea-
tions. Company doctors, company
nurses, etc., are unknown among
union employers.
The non-union shop employer ig-
nores these fundamentals. He would
conceal his slave theory — his mast-
ership over his employees and their
working conditions — by talking
about the so-called “open” shop, the
glory of independence, and “the
tyranny of the unions,” while he
himself denies independence and
proves that tyranny can exist,
though he attempts to conceal it
with a velvet glove.
THE WINDSOR
DOMINION SQUARE, - - _ MONTREAL
EUROPEAN PLAN EXCLUSIVELY
locat^ In the heart of the Shopping and Theatrical District Headaii*f
Further partlculara on appUcatlon. joHN DAVIDSON, Manatar
(SAC
SHOE MACHINERY SHOE SUPPLIES
SHOE REPAIRING MACHINERY
United Shoe Mdchinery of conodo Limited
TORONTO
MONTREAL
KITCHENER
QUEBEC
frank a. PURDY,
S. P. HARRIMAN,
Sales Representative.
Ass't.-Treas. and Manager.
Vapor Car Heating Co. of Canada limited
fiTTlTATVyr Ul? A nn
STEAM HEAT SYSTEMS FOR
ALL TYPES OF PASSENGER CARS
61 Dalhousie Street montrpa
R.U,.,E.cha„se “SuSfoi
NEW YORO
30 Church Street,
Dominion Bridge Go., Limited
ENGINEERS, MANUFACTURERS
AND ERECTORS OF
STEEL STRUCTURE.S
MONTREAL, P. Q.
Branches: Toronto, Ottawa and Winnipeg.
Telephone: Victoria 560
ESTABLISHED 183S
The PECK ROLLING MILLS, Limited
Manufacturers of
Bar Iron and Steel, Railway Spikes, Ship Spikes,
Horse Shoes, Wire Nails, Cut Nails,
Tacks and Washers
HEAD OFFICE AND WORKS : 63 MILL STREET
MONTREAL
H,B, C*
Canada's National Smoke**
T IKE a true friend,
it “wears well” —
HUDSON’S BAY COMPANY,
OblainahU in the humidor //a,
sites 1-10, 1~5, 1-2 and 1 lb.
at good dealers elsewhere.
Winnipeg
February 12, 1921
THE CANADIAN RAILROADER
V
e5,
Tanners and Manufacturers of
Leather Belting for 45 Years.
The Nichols Chemicoi Co., Ltd.
ACIDS AND HEAVY CHEMICALS
Agents for Baker & Adamson's Chemically Pure Acids
and Chemicals.
Agents for Canadian Salt Co.— "Windsor" Brand Caustic Soda and
Bleaching Powder.
W^iks: Capelton, Que., Sulphide, Ont., Barnet, B. C.
Warehouses: Montreal, Toronto.
222 St. James Street MONTREAL
Taylor & Arnold Engineering Co.
LIMITED
MANUFACTURERS OF
Railway, Marine and
Brass Specialties
MONTREAL
WINNIPEG
cmilllll TUBE & moil CO., LIMITED
MONTREAL, Que.
Wrought Pipe Black and Galvanized, Nipples, Couplings.. Bolts,
Nuts, Rivets
BAR IRON AND STEEL
Wire'Nails, Fence Staples, Wire of all kinds— Wood Screws
Works: LACHINE CANAL
Dominion Iron and Steel Co., Ltd.
Manufacturers of
BASIC OPEN HEARTH STEEL
Blooms, Billets, Plates, Rails
s Rods, Bars and Wire Products
General Sales Office: 112 St. James Street
MONTREAL
Consolidated Asbestos, Limited
MINERS OF ALL GRADES OF ABSESTOS
Mines at Thetford Mines, Que.,
and Robertsonville, Que.
EXECUTIVE OFFICES
Dominion Express Building, St. James Street,
MONTR'JAL, Oue.
HI ELECTRO PBODOCTS CO.
Chemical Manufacturers
ACETIC ACID
PARALDEHYDE
ACETALDEHYDE
Power Building
MONTREAL
LAPORTE, MARTIN, LtAe
WHOLESALE CHOCERS
584 ST* PAUL STREET WEST
MONTREAL ,
Tel, Main 3766. Established 1870,
FAIRBANKS - MORSE
RAILROAD SUPPLIES
Motor Cars, Track Tools, Electric Baggage
Trucks, Hand Trucks Action
Men’s Engines.
Your om of Fairbanks- Morss Railway
SUFPIIF WILL BB APPBBCIATBD.
** Canada* s Depat lm^% House for Mechanical ’Coeds**
THE CANADIAN FAIRBANKS - MORSE CO., LIMITED
HaWax. St. Joha, Quebec. Montreal. Ottawa. Toronto. Hamilton
Windsor, Wianioec, SaBlcatoon, Calcary. Vanoouver. Vktoria.
E* G. M. CAPE & CO. Limited
ENGINEERS AND CONTRACTORS
GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTiqN
SOME BUILDINGS RECENTLY CONSTRUCTED
Factory for Northern Electric Company: Office Building and Shipbuild-
ing Plant for Canadian Vickers, Limited: Liverpool & London & Globe
Insurance Company’s new building; Atlantic Sugar Refinery, St. John,
N. B.: Ross Pavilion, Royal Victoria Hospital: The Military Hospital at
Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Que.: New Buildings for Can. Connecticut Cotton
Mills, Sherbrooke, P. Q.
Estimates and tenders furnished on all classes of Construction Work.
HEAD OFFICE ;
920, New Birks Bldg., Phillips Square,
MONTREAL
lA
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIilllllllim^ Mlllllllllilll••‘^|||||lM
U
Page 16
THE CANADIAN RAILROADER
February 12, l#2t
THIS SPACE RESERVED INDEFINITELY
The Truth About the Strike of Engin
eers, Firemen, Conductors and Yard-
men, EfFective November 22, 1920
On the Dominion Iron & Steel Company’s Property and Nova
Scotia Steel & Company’s Property at Sydney and
Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia.
Engineers, firemen, conductors and trainmen on the Dominion Iron & Steel
Company and Nova Scoti^ Steel & Coal Company property perform exactly the same
class of switching service as other railroad naen handling cars in yards, such work,
however, if anything, being more dangerous bn account of the lack of safety equip-
ment and the hazardous conditions incident to inside work within a steel plant indus-
trial yard.
Presidents Wolvin and McDougall, of these two properties, claimed that the
employees who went on strike are not railroad men, notwithstanding the fact that the
Attorney-Geneml’s Department of the Provincial Government of Nova Scotia has de-
clared that the Nova Scotia Steel & Coal Company is a railway.
^Eveiy reasonable effort possible was made by the organizations to submit ques
tions in dispute to any proper tribunal for arbitration. All such efforts failed and the
companies both declined to consider arbitration, except that the Nova Scotia Steel &
Coal Company through President McDougall did offer on December 2nd to submit the
questions m dispute to Senator Smeaton White, President of the Montreal Gazette,
for determination, such offer, of course, being declined by the representatives of the
organizations for reasons that must be generally apparent to laboring men.
Men on strike were required to work twelve hours for which their compensation was
approximately fifty per cent of standard compensation for the same number of hours.
Companies daim these railroad men are part of a steel industry concern and that
wages should be dependent on the rise and the fall of the steel market, but this theory
was not applied when the two steel companies, under war emergency conditions, were
making enormous profits. '
The two properties where strike is in effect are part of the proposed British
Empire Steel Corporation, in which proposed merger there is said to be $130,000,000.00
of watered stock or good will, which will, no doubt, be expected to pay standard divi-
dends^ while railroad men on the properties are expected to work fifty per cent below
standard.
Oddly enough, the Algoma Steel Corporation, Ltd., Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., soon
followed the lead given by its Nova Scotia friends in the matter of holding down the
wages of employees. On November 1st, 1920, the Algoma Steel Corporation had made
an agreement to pay standard wages to its engineers, firemen, conductors and brake-
men, this agreement to continue in effect until November 1st, 1921. But the Algoma
Steel Corporation changed its mind, and has reduced wages per hour as follows: —
^ engineers, 16 cents; firemen, 12 cents; conductors, 15>^ cents; brakemen, 14>^ cents.
The lawmakers and the citizens of Canada should know the attitude of these
. - steel corporations who have been, and are, the beneficiaries of the Government and
citizens of Canada.
•
Laboring men when merely asking for a fair deal are called “ Bolshevists,”
” Radicals ” and other names. What terms should be applied to steel corporations
playing the games described in this article?
\
JAMES MURDOCK,
Vice-President,
Brotherhood of Railroad Traijimen.
GEO. K. 'y/ARK,
Vice-President,
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
and Engineers; also representing
The Brotherhood of Loco-
motive Engineers-
.#'1
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